Pearland ISD Trustees make lease decision

KRISTI NIX

Published 6:00 pm, Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Pearland ISD trusteess again considered what to do with the old Dawson High School at their regular board meeting last week.

After a question and answer session with Michelle Smith, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Pearland and another two hours in closed session discussion with their attorney, trustees ultimately voted to approve the counteroffer made by city officials, but rejected considering leasing the facility to non-governmental entities. Crosspoint Church had previously offered district officials $180,000 annually to lease 100,000 sq. feet.

In terms of the proposed lease arrangement with the church, trustees were advised the costs would outweigh the benefits by the District’s Chief Financial Officer Don Marshall.

“If you look at going outside the governmental entities then breaking even is not always the best option for a governmental entity such as us,” Marshall told the trustees.

“If you’re looking at leasing out 100,000 sq. feet, you’re looking at five custodians for a cost of $100,000. So, the $100,000 you would take in would be immediately taken up by custodial staff,” he said. “Plus, you have the cost of cleaning supplies.”

Trustees also questioned Marshall about the costs and benefits of leasing a portion of the facility to city officials for Pearland Parks and Recreation programs and a new after school program for PISD middle school students.

“What is our net revenue going to be?” Brennan asked.

“I can only guess,” Marshall said. “But, I’ve thinking something between zero and $20,000 will be left over and have some kind of a profit and loss statement at the end of the year.”

“ There are some risks involved,” he said. “But, I feel comfortable that we will re-coop our costs and have some left over.”

Under terms of the proposed interlocal agreement with the city, the district would lease 50,000 square feet of the facility to the city at a cost of $90,000 a year.

The motion to lease the facility to city officials for Parks and Recreations programs passed six to one. Trustees Brennan, Gant, Garrison, Hamil, Solomon, Smith voted to approve the motion. Voting against: Roberts.

Among the crowd at the board meeting were roughly fifty members of Crosspoint Church, who immediately left the meeting after trustees voted against leasing to anyone other than city officials.

Outside the meeting, members voiced their concerns.

“I’m frustrated and disappointed,” said Patrick Smith, the father of three PISD students and member of Crosspoint Church. “They don’t even know their numbers. They’re wasting attorney’s fees and people’s time. They’re wasting taxpayer money, my taxpayer money on top of it.”

“The conversation ended before it even started tonight,” said Crosspoint Church member Clint Byrom. “They didn’t come up with an alternative or offer an alternative. They just said, ‘no’. They didn’t discuss a reasonable fee. We’ve been talking with them for more than six months. And, they’re just now figuring out the costs? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“The numbers work out for the city’s lease, but the same numbers come out differently for us. Their math doesn’t make any sense,” Denise Lawton said. “Their financial information is not reliable in my opinion. Obviously, they are manipulating the numbers to justify their decision.”

Since last summer, district officials have been negotiating a proposed lease with city officials, who initially approached Crosspoint with the idea of subleasing the space. Considered a win/win situation as both entities could share the space and save money, the sublease partnership stalled when several city council members questioned the potential legal responsibilities the city would face as a co-tenant.

On Monday, Pearland City Council members reveiwed the lease proposal endorsed by PISD trustees and voted unanimously to approve the motion.

During preliminary discussions, Councilman Scott Sherman asked city officials to consider adding a similar program for west Pearland residents.

“In the future, I think we should pursue a similar program for Pearland students who attend Alvin ISD schools,” Sherman said. “It’s only fair to the citizens who live on that side of town.”

Pearland Parks and Recreation officials now have the green light to start moving their current classes and operations to the Bailey Road Facility in May.

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“Summer camp programs at the Bailey Road Facility will begin in June, “Assistant City Manager Jon Branson said. “Existing programs from Jamison Middle School and Pearland Junior High West will start there in June as well. In the fall, weplan to start offering a new after school program for middle school students.”